Patriots Day – 5 Movies with Mark Wahlberg Acting the Everyman

Patriots Day – 5 Movies with Mark Wahlberg Acting the Everyman

After an unconventional start into acting, from being in a 90s hip hop group to modelling underwear for Calvin Klein, Mark Wahlberg has emerged into one of the most talented and most diverse performers of his generation.

Appearing in everything from belly-laugh comedies, action-packed blockbusters and new takes on horror, it’s his portrayal of real-life heroes where Wahlberg has found his niche. Taking on inspirational stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things has allowed the Boston-born actor to flex his dramatic skills and win critical and audience acclaim as he brings incredible stories of the ‘everyman’ to the big screen.

Wahlberg’s most recent role as Sgt. Tommy Saunders, sees him as an amalgam of several real-life police officers and first responders who were caught up in the Boston Marathon attack. Following Saunders as the hunt for those responsible begins, the audience meets some of the heroes of the aftermath in the poignantly accurate portrayal of one of America’s darkest days.

To celebrate the release of PATRIOTS DAY on Blu-ray and DVD June 26, we take a look at Mark Wahlberg’s most celebrated performances within stories that highlight the unimaginable bravery that ordinary people can demonstrate.

The Fighter

Wahlberg gives one of his greatest performances in David O. Russell’s drama as Micky Ward, the boxer who gets his last chance at a light welterweight title despite family politics reaching boiling point. Conflicted between loyalty towards his drug-addict brother and trainer Dicky (Christian Bale) and the nagging feeling that he is holding him back, Micky decides to step out of his family’s shadow with the help of his girlfriend which immediately creates tension at home, particularly with his overbearing mother. A touching portrayal of dreams and the sacrifices you make to reach your goals, The Fighter was a passion project of Wahlberg’s who intended to do Ward’s life story “justice” and achieved that with 2 Oscar wins.

Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer, based at the Scala in Prestatyn and at the many Cineworld screens, where she reviews the latest movies, she has also had several articles published in various publications. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK's Top 10 Film Blogs.